Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
InternetNZ video asks what Kiwis want from copyright
InternetNZ video asks what Kiwis want from
copyright
InternetNZ today released a video comparing geoblocking of New Zealanders to passport control at a supermarket checkout.
This release coincides with this week's switching off of the Global Mode service, which allowed New Zealanders to pay for and access overseas streaming services.
InternetNZ Chief Executive, Jordan Carter, says New Zealanders lost a popular option for accessing the content they want.
"Our video asks New
Zealanders if this is what we want from our copyright
law.
“Watching and listening to media online is now as
normal as shopping in the supermarket. New Zealanders would
not put up with a law that stopped us buying our favourite
foods. We think the same applies to online content streaming
and other services.”
Copyright law has big effects on what we can do, watch, and share online and the Copyright Act is due for a review in the next couple of years.
“We
are asking people to think about these questions now, so
that the upcoming reform of copyright law delivers what New
Zealanders want,” says Mr Carter.
Geoblocking means
excluding paying customers from outside a particular country
or region. With Global Mode turned on, customers of some New
Zealand ISPs could access content as if they lived in an
unrestricted region. This proved a popular way for New
Zealanders to access new episodes of Game of Thrones and
other TV series. This innovation proved less than popular
with local companies that had purchased exclusive rights to
such content. Part of the copyright law discussion to come
is about the degree to which such deals - which work against
the openness and consumer choice people want - should be
protected in law.
Media companies brought legal action alleging that the Global Mode service breached copyright law. The case did not go to court. Despite uncertainty about the legal position, a settlement between the parties saw the Global Mode services switched off on 1 September.
View our video and read more about this at our blog post here.
ENDS
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